A Loughborough site that was once a busy taxi office and workshops, that has fallen into decline and dilapidation, is set to be demolished to make way for a new fit for purpose apartment complex.
HSSP Architects have gained approval for a 16-apartment development, consisting of one and two bedrooms and a luxury penthouse style apartment.
The five storey building will be on a main arterial route from the railway station to the town centre, and on one of the most prominent corners in Loughborough.
The approval follows pre-application talks at the initial stages about how this development aligns with Charnwood Borough Council’s Masterplan to bring further improvement to the area, and ongoing discussions through the planning process.
UK manufacturing output grew at its fastest pace in ten months over the quarter to May, according to the latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey.
Output still failed to keep pace with demand, however, as the volume of stocks of finished goods became less adequate compared with last month.
The balance of firms expecting to raise selling prices in the three months ahead increased slightly, moving closer to March’s record high.
The survey, based on the responses of 249 manufacturers, found:
Manufacturing output growth picked up in the three months to May (balance of +30 from +19% in the three months to April), with output increasing at the fastest rate since the three months to July 2021. Although output growth is expected to ease in the three months to July (+23%), the pace of expansion will remain comfortably above the long-term average (+9).
Total new orders were above normal to a greater extent than last month (+26% from +14% in April), matching the record high seen in March. Export order books were above normal to the greatest extent since January 2018 (+19% from -9% in April).
Stock adequacy for finished goods deteriorated in May (-15% from -3%). 26% of manufacturers this month said stocks were inadequate, with 11% saying that stocks were more than adequate and 54% saying they were adequate.
Expected domestic price growth for the three months ahead picked up slightly in May (+75% from +71% in April), moving closer to March’s survey record high (+80%).
Confidence showed a further decline in the quarter to May (-30%), while investment plans for buildings (-6%) and plant and machinery (-2%) remained weak.
Anna Leach, CBI deputy chief economist, said: “Manufacturers have reported output growth and order books improving in May. But cost pressures remain acute and are pushing manufacturers to raise prices. Sentiment among manufacturers has fallen in recent months as the outlook has deteriorated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and investment plans are being scaled back.
“Rising costs are hitting consumers and businesses alike, and the Government can and must take action now to support the economy through the challenging months ahead. Putting pounds in the pockets of people already struggling should not be delayed, and must be coupled with action to support firms’ cashflow and to stimulate investment.”
The Access Group and Reckon have reached a $100m agreement for Loughborough-headquartered Access to acquire Reckon Accountants Group, including APS and Reckon Elite, in Australia and New Zealand.
The acquisition reinforces Access’ commitment to the region and to the accountant’s industry, signalling its intent to advance its tax and practice management offering for ANZ accounting firms.
Today’s announcement marks the 10th acquisition in three years for Access in the Asia Pacific region, building on the purchases of Attaché, Unleashed, Joyful, Volcanic, Sage Australia and Asia businesses, Definitiv, EziTracker, Fastrack360 and Vincere since 2019.
Reckon is a provider of practice software and business management solutions designed specifically for accounting firms.
The Access Group has gone from having no presence in the region to 2019, to today supporting more than 35,000 customers, with 900 colleagues, across five countries.
Kerry Agiasotis, president of The Access Group Asia Pacific, said: “The acquisition of Reckon Accountants Group further reinforces Access’ commitment to the accountant’s industry in Australia and New Zealand, which commenced with the purchase of HandiSoft as part of its acquisition of Sage’s Australia and Asia businesses in 2021. With this being our 10th acquisition in the region in just three years, it shows our strong commitment toward rapidly scaling Access Asia Pacific to best support our customers evolving needs.
“We are bringing together two businesses with a strong track record over more than 30 years delivering end-to-end solutions tailored to the specific needs of accounting firms in ANZ. With The Access Group and Reckon Accountants Groups combined industry experience, capabilities and resources, we are uniquely placed to continue to deliver the breadth and depth of software solutions that accounting firms require to adapt their practices to their clients’ rapidly changing needs.
“The combination of our expanded tax and practice management portfolio coupled with cloud technologies and the Access Workspace platform, come together to create an exciting set of new possibilities for our accounting customers. From hosting existing applications, integrating with new cloud point solutions or replacing with whole new cloud native application suites, our aim is to give our clients confidence that we will support them into the future at a pace that works for them.”
Reckon CEO Sam Allert said: “This partnership is good news for our customers, our employees and for the market. The proposed transaction agreement with The Access Group represents a compelling offer, which is also clearly in the best interests of our shareholders. The Board has always maintained that the sum of the company’s parts is worth more than what has been attributed to the whole, and this proposed transaction validates this.
“For our APS and Reckon Elite customers, we are thrilled to bring them the deep specialisation that Access boasts within the practice management market, and offer an extended portfolio of solutions that will deliver added value to our customers and theirs.
“We have spent more than 20 years imagining ways to create brave, new and progressive accounting firms. This acquisition is the natural next step to ensuring continued investment in our vision to simplify business for the benefit of all our customers.
“In joining with The Access Group our teams can broaden the service and solutions available to customers, build on the vision for growth we all share, and ultimately make this a reality for our growing client base.
“In addition, Reckon will be in a much stronger position to unlock further shareholder value through the growth and development of the remaining Business and Legal Groups not captured in this agreement. These divisions have represented approximately 70 per cent of the company’s revenue and a significant portion of EBITDA prior to the initiation of this agreement.
“With this transaction, Reckon will be well placed to accelerate the strategy of delivering a complete suite of accounting & payroll cloud solutions to help small businesses turn ambition into accomplishment, building upon our 114,000 cloud customers, as well as pursue practice management opportunities in the legal market. Proceeds from the sale will also allow the company to reward shareholders with a special dividend, continuing our trend of providing a stable income stream,” Mr Allert said.
Window Widgets has acquired Kettering-based Profoil Limited, a specialist of foil lamination for over 25 years, and have announced the formation of the Q19 Group.
Profoil provides foiling services to the fenestration and building materials markets in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Gloucester-based Window Widgets began in 2000 and became the largest range of universal ancillaries for the fenestration market.
The deal was put together by the Q19 director team with advice from Cattaneo Corporate Finance and Legal Clarity, with financial support from Shawbrook Bank. The management of Profoil Limited were advised by Kingswood Business Sales, a division of Richmond Capital Partners.
Sarah Hitchings, sales and marketing director of Q19 Group, said: “I, along with the other directors of the business, are pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of Profoil, a key supplier to Window Widgets. We now have an opportunity to continue investing and realising the considerable potential of Profoil within our group.”
Commercial interior design and fit out company APSS is exhibiting at the Lincolnshire Business Expo 2022, helping businesses create the right working environment for staff to promote productivity and morale.
Hosted at the Lincolnshire Showground by CityX on Tuesday 24 May, expert staff will be on hand, ready to provide inspirational ideas to make your business stand out from competitors and streamline efficiency.
Stuart Marsland, sales director for APSS, said: “The way offices are used has changed drastically over the last two years. Whilst some have returned full time to the office, many companies have found the benefits of hybrid working. They want to adapt their workspace to a more communal meeting space. Companies are focusing on how to bring the home comforts into the office and moving away from the more traditional banks of desks.”
APSS works across a range of industries including commercial, industrial, retail, leisure, education and healthcare.
“We are here to help businesses find the right balance for their staff, helping to take their concept and make it a reality,” added Stuart. “Our team, who will be available to speak to on the stand ES6, can help provide ideas and inspiration for small changes, large-scale fit outs and refurbishments.”
From concept to completion, APSS provides personal service and creates a stunning work environment for all types of businesses. Get in touch to let them know you’re coming, book a slot to speak with them or just turn up on the day.
Nottingham City Council is making “good progress” towards closing pay gaps between staff of different gender, ethnicity and disability.
The authority compares well with other councils and local public sector organisations – with data showing that across the whole organisation, it has the smallest average gender pay gap among Core City councils and lower than many local public sector organisations.
Across the council, the average female member of staff earns 97p for every pound earned by her male counterpart – a 2.9% pay gap – while for middle earners the gap is smaller still, at 0.5%. The discrepancies are down to more men being in higher-paid jobs and more women being in lower-paid jobs.
Meanwhile, disabled employees on average are paid slightly more than able-bodied colleagues – £1.01 for every £1, a gap of minus 1.1%. this rises to £1.10 for every £1, a gap of minus 10.4%, among middle earners, which is up from 5.8% in 2020. This is because disabled employees are very evenly spread throughout the organisation, with slightly higher representation in middle and higher ranked posts.
Among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff, most earn 94p for every £1 white colleagues earn – up slightly from 2020, with middle earners receiving 91p for every £1, or a 9.4% pay gap. The differences are likely to exist because White British employees are slightly overrepresented higher up in the organisation and slightly more BAME employees in lower paid roles.
The council says it is continually seeking ways to support and develop its staff, including embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the organisation’s culture and developing ongoing learning and resources to support leaders to work in an inclusive way. Measures include introducing programmes such as the Change Academy, which responds to calls from staff for more development opportunities and will help the council to “grow its own” to drive the transformation and improvement of the organisation.
Nottingham City Council’s Chief Executive, Mel Barrett, said: “We are headed in the right direction towards closing pay gaps, and compare favourably with Core City councils and local public sector organisations. We are not shying away from this issue and are taking active steps to bring about positive change. Despite the positive progress, we are not going to become complacent and will continue to ensure that there is equity of pay throughout the organisation.
“Our aspiration is for Nottingham to be an internationally successful and prosperous city that offers its residents the means and opportunities to realise their potential. Pay gap reporting helps us to identify inequalities that need to be addressed.”
Astorg has backed out of bidding for Ideagen, the Nottinghamshire-based software firm.
It was revealed that the private equity firm had proposed a cash offer for the company at the start of May, as had Hg, coinciding with private equity firm Cinven confirming it did not intend to move forward with an offer for the business.
An announcement today reads: “Further to the announcements made by Ideagen on 5 May 2022 and 9 May 2022 in which Astorg was identified as a potential bidder for Ideagen, Astorg today confirms that funds represented by Astorg do not intend to make an offer for Ideagen.”
Meanwhile, Hg has put forward an offer to acquire Ideagen, valuing the business at £1.05bn.
Revealing this, Richard Longdon, non-executive chairman of Ideagen, said: “The Ideagen directors unanimously intend to recommend the offer to shareholders.
“The all-cash offer represents a compelling and attractive opportunity for shareholders to realise and crystallise their investment in Ideagen in the near term and also provides a significant premium to the prevailing share price notwithstanding the backdrop of the wider risks posed by the political and macro-economic environment.
“The offer reflects the quality, strength and long-term performance of Ideagen’s businesses and its future growth potential. We believe that Hg’s track-record and expertise in supporting and growing software businesses would provide a complementary partner for Ideagen’s stakeholders.”
Christopher Fielding, Joris Van Gool and Jean-Baptiste Brian, partners at Hg, said: “At Hg, we have spent over 20 years focused on the business-to-business software space. We have long admired how Ben and his highly motivated team have grown Ideagen into a leader in its sector.
“Our experience in the sector gives us strong conviction that Ideagen represents a high-quality platform, and we are committed to providing additional capital and resources that are required to further support and enhance Ideagen’s next phase of growth.
“Hg has a strong track record of investing in and growing UK-based software businesses. We recognise that Ideagen is a global organisation with stakeholders around the world, but with deep community ties and a strong local heritage. We strongly believe that the core of the business should be maintained in its Nottingham base, including its executive team and technological development centre.”
Viridis Building Services has joined the sponsor line up for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, backing the Sustainable Development of the Year category.
Speaking with Business Link, Lee Marshall, Managing Director at Viridis Building Services, said: “We are delighted to sponsor Sustainable Development of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards again this year. Being sustainable is one of our core values. We promote it within our business and to the businesses and practices we work with. It is something we are immensely proud of, strive to be leaders on, and we actively want to be involved in presenting awards and recognising developments that we feel are outstanding in this area.
“At Viridis, we understand how every single detail in the construction of a building can impact our environment. Working in partnership with architects, builders, project managers and their clients, we provide intelligent, innovative and, above all, sustainable building services to projects across a wide range of sectors.
“From designing in core sustainable principles at the earliest stages of projects, through to delivering low-carbon, low-cost lighting, water and energy systems, we are ensuring the East Midlands spearheads Sustainability and Environmental Design. We are excited to see this year’s entries to the East Midlands Bricks Awards and look forward to attending the ceremony to reveal the ultimate winner of Sustainable Development of the Year in September.”
The awards, which will take place on Thursday 15 Septemberat the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the excellent work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.
Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards.
To submit a business or development, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.
The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker.
Dress code is standard business attire.
A major housing and employment development area in Lutterworth will bring tens of millions of pounds in community benefits, affordable homes and much-needed infrastructure.
Plans for 2,750 new homes, community facilities and employment space to the east of Lutterworth were approved in July 2020. Approximately 1,260 of the new homes are expected to be built by 2031 and the rest after 2031.
The 550-acre development – known as the Lutterworth East Strategic Development Area (SDA) – was identified in the Harborough Local Plan as a key area to accommodate new housing in the district. It will include over 100 hectares of green space – approximately half of the site – two new primary schools and employment space to create around 2,500 jobs.
The development could attract as much as £1billion of investment to support the local economy.
A new spine road, also being created as part of the scheme, is expected to significantly reduce the amount of traffic travelling through Lutterworth town centre.
Harborough District Council issued the decision notice on the scheme this week having agreed substantial community benefits, through a Section 106 agreement, with developers contributing millions of pounds towards facilities for residents in the area.
Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This development will provide a much-needed investment boost to the local economy, with job and training opportunities during construction. As well as providing vast amounts of open space, it will also provide homes to benefit many local families and, with 40 per cent of homes being affordable, help those struggling to afford their own home, a place to live.”
The scheme will provide:
A Community Park, playing fields, allotments, woodland, trees and hedgerows and new ecological habitats
Land for a potential new leisure centre in the future
Foot and cycle paths – connecting with Lutterworth town centre
23 hectares of retail and business space – creating up to 2,500 jobs
Two new primary schools and special education unit
Improvements to main roads and junctions to increase capacity, a new M1 bridge, and a new spine road
A community hub – with the potential for shops, restaurants, cafes, community hall and other local facilities
Approximately 1,260 of the new homes are expected to be built by 2031 and the rest after 2031
The scheme will also ensure the protection of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) known as Misterton Marshes, the River Swift and its tributaries, Thornborough Spinney, mature trees and hedgerows.
Cllr King added: “This will create thousands of new jobs locally so more people can work closer to where they live, reducing their travel impact on the environment and climate. It will also deliver a site which could be used to accommodate a new leisure centre for Lutterworth should the existing sports centre reach its capacity.”
Leicester-based Pall-Ex has cemented its commitment to the global logistics marketplace following the appointment of Sue Buchanan to international network director.
Promoted internally from her previous role of UK network director, Sue will be focusing on developing cross border growth, strengthening relationships with existing partners, and key for international expansion, onboarding new territories.
With an established career in the logistics sector, Sue has worked at Pall-Ex for seven and a half years, successfully driving member recruitment, member relationship management, member volume growth and compliance in her previous position.
International expansion is a growth area for Pall-Ex, and Sue is joined by an additional general manager within the division as part of its commitment to growing a team of cross-border specialists.
Commenting on the new role, Sue said: “I am delighted to be helping Pall-Ex drive growth internationally. With the initial challenges of Brexit subsiding and travel now starting to open up, we can really build our presence with partners across the globe.
“The knowledge I bring in logistics from the UK is invaluable when looking at developing and nurturing new global markets. My aim is to increase shareholder value through our knowledge, marketing support and IT, such as the MyNexus platform, globally.”
Mark Steel, Pall-Ex’s Managing Director – international business units, is optimistic about the opportunities overseas, saying: “We have a proven business model in Europe and have already enjoyed wider growth internationally. Sue’s promotion will help take the business into the next development phase, kick starting growth within new, international areas.”
The international expansion includes two new Pall-Ex signings: a master licensee in Czechia / Slovakia in early autumn last year, and an additional new agreement to cover Ireland.
In Poland, a new central hub has also been opened. The new facility in Łódź, means that the Pall-Ex Polish central hub is now in the centre of the country.
Research from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s latest Business Outlook Tracker research, which looks specifically at 370 leaders of businesses with a supply chain, shows that over half (52%) are finding it harder to operate their business today, compared to 12 months ago.
To manage cost pressures, 61% of respondents said that their suppliers have agreed to more flexible (longer) payment terms, and 55% said increasing costs in their supply chain are being passed onto their customers through higher prices for their products/services.
42% of the respondents had already increased their prices, with a further 51% planning or expecting to raise prices this year. This increasingly challenging operating environment has been fuelled by headwinds such as commodity prices, increased trade administration, energy costs and political uncertainty.
Building a resilient and agile supply chain is now a top priority for 57% of respondents, with around 48% saying that their business did not have a good enough understanding of their business’s supply chain to be able to respond quickly to disruption over the last 12 months. The top risks to mid-market supply chains were identified by business leaders as cyber security, Brexit disruption, ethical breaches by suppliers and rising inflation.
Sue Knight, is a partner and practice leader at Grant Thornton UK LLP in the Midlands. She says business leaders should keep action simple and practical, first creating a risk benefit analysis and then finding opportunities that have the most buy in and can be actioned quickly.
She says: “Businesses in the Midlands need to take a risk and profitability-based approach to their supply chain as changes that affect businesses are happening constantly, whether you are prepared or not. Business leaders should take time to identify the most likely and damaging risks to identify improvements that can help build resilience, increase supply chain predictability and reduce supplier risk. They should then add analysis of profitability to the picture, which will help to identify the most resilient products and customers.
“It will likely take 18-24 months for organisations to make any meaningful changes to their supply chains, and this timeline will depend on the maturity of the supply chain approach. The Midlands’ businesses should plan for 12 months at least to put systems in place. Look for simple steps that you can action right away, such as measuring and mapping, as many improvements do not need large investments.
“Finding the opportunities that have the most ‘buy-in’ and investment from the business is also vital. For example, if your internal ESG strategy isn’t in order, then your supply chain will be a long way off. Identify which initiatives bring business benefit and are either established, or will be supported in your own business, and focus on those initially.”
Five actions businesses can take to build sustainable supply chainsUse data as much as possible
You should use relevant data to identify risk, map the supply chain and identify existing profitability by product, country or customer. This will help you to make and prioritise decisions in the supply chain – whilst knowing the cost impact of the decisions.
Identify your ESG priorities
All supply chain activity is underpinned by the growing ESG agenda. Often, prominent ESG risks are in line with general supply chain risks, such as location of suppliers. Also, lenders and other stakeholders are more likely to support businesses with strong ESG cultures – for example by offering lower lending rates. Lenders and other stakeholders will increasingly look to ESG reporting and adherence to regulation, so having data ready, even before they ask, will be key. In addition, your supply chain partners need to be able to provide you with assurance that they are operating in line, not just with regulations, but with your standards, and in an objectively ethical manner.
Get visibility of tax and reporting policy
Tax and reporting policies are designed to raise revenue and change behaviours of businesses. You need to keep on top of the direction of travel in the key territories in your supply chain. More taxes are likely to be introduced relating to sustainability – such as plastic packaging taxes and, most significantly, carbon taxes and pricing mechanisms. These taxes will add significant costs into your supply chains that you may not yet be aware of or have planned for.
Understand how tax and reporting sensitivity scenarios can be built into the data you are already collecting and ensure your suppliers are doing the same
You will start to feel pressure from larger customers to adhere to their reporting requirements, perhaps even internationally. TCFD and EU initiatives will play a bigger role – many businesses are not compliant today and need to do more. If you feel you are behind, that is ok, as there is time to catch up. Start by reviewing the data you are already collecting and identify the gaps in terms of supply chain and ESG. You also need to ensure that all the suppliers and partners involved in your supply chain, from start to finish, are transparent, that they’re adhering to legislation and that you get early visibility of potential cost increases.
Educate your business on emissions
Findings from the Business Outlook Tracker around COP26 last year showed that 1 in 3 mid-market businesses in the UK had not calculated their carbon emissions for the year, and half (49%) had not set a net zero strategy. It is vital that all parts of your business understand emissions (internal and external) and their impact on the environment. If you haven’t already, you should begin by measuring your impact in terms of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Nottingham-based digital workflow firm Intoware, has appointed Brad Flook as its new sales director. Brad Flook brings to the role 25 years’ business operations and sales leadership experience, having joined from reprographics company, The Hobs Group.
This senior appointment follows Intoware’s most successful year to date since it was founded in 2015, which saw revenue of almost £1m and its monthly recurring revenue increase by 40 per cent.
Brad Flook will be responsible for growing the revenue stream of this young software-as-a-service (SaaS) company.
In this new role, Brad will increase Intoware’s existing customer relationships in the oil and gas, manufacturing, rail, utilities, construction and infrastructure sectors and its reseller partnerships by opening up new market opportunities as the company continues to accelerate growth both at home and abroad.
Previously as sales director for the Hobs Group, Brad was responsible for national sales, customer success and marketing strategy. He provided executive sponsorship for major customers and prospects, focusing on creating opportunities to drive growth and success for the company, while ensuring it always delivered on customer requirements.
Intoware’s Chief Executive Officer, Keith Tilley, says: “We are delighted to have Brad Flook as our new sales director, as businesses are increasingly capitalising on the benefits digitisation provides. Brad’s valuable experience in a senior sales position, will stand him in good stead, as he takes on the role of leading our sales team by enhancing long-term customer relationships and unlocking new markets.”
Brad Flook, sales director, Intoware, says: “I’m excited to be joining Intoware right now, as businesses are rapidly implementing the Internet of Things and cloud software capabilities so they can collect data in a transparent and interactive way, that provides ‘real-time’ visibility into industrial assets, equipment, processes and resources.
“Despite this new era of digital efficiencies, many industries still remain un-digitised or in the early stages of their digital journey. Moving forward, we aim to support these businesses by helping them to identify which assets to digitise to reduce costs and benefit the bottom line, thanks to ‘the golden thread of information’ that collaborative workflow systems provide.”
It’s never too late to pursue your passion in life. That’s the message from Nottingham man Cameron Bell, who at the age of 31 is now an active participant in the 750 Motor Club Toyota MR2 Championship. The automotive design engineer, originally from South Yorkshire, has built his own car and is now testing himself against rivals across 16 rounds at eight different circuits in the UK.
Cameron’s first two outings of the season were at Donington Park, south-west of Nottingham, and at the home of UK motorsport, Silverstone, on the national layout. The ambitious racer hopes to finish in the championship’s Top 15, while soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the ride. His exploits have attracted the attention of Nottingham accountancy firm Page Kirk, which is backing Cameron with sponsorship.
“Racing is something I’ve always wanted to have a go at, especially growing up watching motorsport icons like Mika Hakkinen, Colin McRae and Alain Menu,” reveals Cameron. “I found a championship I wanted to enter, then bought a car suitable and over months built it in to a race car in my home garage. During that time, I also acquired my race licence. It’s difficult to explain how I feel when I’m in the car, helmet on, approaching a corner at high speed with cars all around you trying to get the best position on track. I guess it’s the adrenalin, excitement and coordination skill that attracts me to racing the most.”
The new sponsorship arrangement allows Cameron to continue to make approved modifications to his car; a 2001 two-seater Toyota MR2 Roadster, with 1800cc mid-engine. It also helps to cover some of the other inevitable costs associated with pursuing his passion.
James Haywood, partner at Page Kirk, the independent accountancy firm in the East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Cameron for this year’s Toyota MR2 championship. Myself and my fellow partners have a keen interest in motorsport, and we saw this as a perfect opportunity to enter the industry, get the Page Kirk name even better known through a new medium. With Cameron also becoming a Club Racing UK ambassador this year, it was an easy decision to make.”
Anyone interested in seeing Cameron race at future meetings should visit www.750mc.co.uk for details of dates and locations.
You can follow Cameron’s progress on his social media @cameronbellracing.
Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership chair Pat Doody has officially opened the new Digital and Professional Skills Centre at Lincoln College.
Housed in the 130-year-old grade II listed Gibney Building on Monks Road, the centre is the result of a £2.5m investment from the LEP, and will help train students for careers in health and social care and cyber security.
The centre is home to the latest technology to ensure graduating students are familiar with cutting-edge industry techniques.
It is also home to the Lincoln Business Centre, an incubation hub and co-working space for start-ups in the city.
Pat Doody said: “This fully restored and iconic 130-year-old building has been transformed into a cutting edge and beautiful centre. The facilities here will give students the self-confidence and experience to enter the workplace at an accelerated pace, which is vital to our local employers who have both skills and staff shortages.
“We supported this new centre because it responds directly to the skills and training requirements for employers in our priority sectors – particularly manufacturing and engineering, health and care, and digital and IT – at a time when it is needed the most.”
Thanks to this investment, Lincoln College health and social care students are now working on £26,000 simulation mannequins that help them to learn about monitoring the breathing and heart rate of elderly patients. The life-size mannequins replicate the weight and feel of the human body, allowing students to practise moving patients as they would in a care home.
The centre also boasts a fully equipped networking lab, allowing cyber apprentices to fight viruses and penetration-test servers in a secure environment.
Lincoln College principal and CEO Mark Locking said: “Investment from the LEP, the DfE and Lincoln College has breathed new life into this 130-year-old building, transforming it into a state-of-the-art training centre.
“Thanks to this investment our students are now benefitting from an amazing, progressive learning environment that is equipped with the very latest technology.
“This represents and amazing opportunity for young people interested in careers in health and social care and cyber.”
With nominationsOPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s prestigious Bricks Awards, now is the time to reward and recognise your teams by submitting an entry.
Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September,at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening also providing the chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.
Dan Stack, director at Chevin Homes, reflected on winning an award at the 2021 event: “We were absolutely delighted that Chevin Homes has been recognised and the Chase Farm scheme awarded as Residential Development of the Year. A great night away enjoyed by all and this award is a fitting reward for the team effort to create this bespoke development.”
To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.
The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker.
Dress code is standard business attire.
The Midlands Engine partnership is today (18 May 2022) launching the Midlands Investment Portfolio – a ‘digital front door’ opening up investment opportunities across the region.
Taken together, it is estimated these opportunities could support or create a staggering 220,000 jobs and deliver more than £33bn in Gross Development Value.
The Midlands Investment Portfolio showcases investment opportunities across Midlands core sector strengths including: Health and Life Sciences, Energy, Transport Technology, Cyber and Data, Materials and Products, and Agri-food. Within this, opportunities are available in the Industry, Infrastructure, Retail and Commercial, Research and Development, Residential and Education spaces.
The Portfolio has been developed in collaboration with Midlands Engine partners, including the region’s local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, and leading promotion and investment agencies – to present the most complete picture currently available of Midlands priority investment propositions.
Working with Midlands champions in geographies across the world, the Portfolio now becomes a vital asset for their continued advocacy and support for the economic growth and future prosperity of the region.
The Portfolio forms the keystone of Midlands Engine’s involvement at the UK Real Estate Infrastructure Investment Forum (UKREiiF). Throughout the Forum, the Midlands Engine partnership will showcase the region’s strengths in support of the urgent need to level up and drive economic growth and prosperity.
Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine, said: “The Midlands offering to the world has always been prodigious – from our heritage as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, to the cutting-edge technologies that are being developed right now in sectors as diverse as health and life sciences, digital and clean energy.
“The Midlands Investment Portfolio showcases the exceptional breadth of our region’s investment potential in one place – a comprehensive resource to pinpoint the primary investment opportunities our wonderful region has to offer.
“As Midlands Engine partners continue our work, together, to accelerate growth and prosperity in our region, the Portfolio will be a vital tool in our collaborative efforts to drive inward investment.”
Minister for Investment, Lord Grimstone said: “The Midlands Investment Portfolio provides a world-leading resource to maximise investment into the region which will support jobs, boost the local economy and level up the UK.
“This government is committed to supporting the Midlands Engine through trade and investment, thanks to my department’s support and ambition in signing Free-Trade Agreements that will benefit every region of the UK.”
Minister for Levelling Up, Neil O’Brien MP said: “The Midlands is home to a hotbed of talent across a range of important sectors. With this investment portfolio, the Midlands Engine have done a great job of showcasing the very best investment opportunities across the region.
“The Government is working to ensure the Midlands Engine continues to fire on all cylinders as we deliver our mission of levelling up every corner of the country.”
UK manufacturers are to have their productivity and competitiveness boosted thanks to a new data innovation hub and testbed led by Ulster University, Industry Minister Lee Rowley announced today (Wednesday 18 May).
The £50 million Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) will support small and medium size manufacturers to capture and better utilise their data, helping them increase productivity, growth and sustainability. Businesses in sectors spanning from food and drink, aerospace and many more will be supported to develop, test and adopt the latest data-driven technologies.
Nearly 10,000 manufacturers are expected to benefit from the hub and 13,000 jobs will be supported, helping to boost economic growth and level-up regions across the UK. The hub will be supported by £20 million from the UK government backed Made Smarter Innovation Programme, along with £30 million of business co-investment.
UK Industry Minister Lee Rowley said: “As we embrace the digital manufacturing revolution, it is vital manufacturers across the UK can capitalise on the productivity and growth gains that come with adopting the latest data-led digital technologies.
“The Smart Manufacturing Data Hub, backed by £20 million of government funds, will support companies to implement cutting edge production and process techniques themselves, helping bring the next generation of products to our shelves in a more efficient and sustainable way.”
The hub will host an online Manufacturing Data Exchange Platform that will enable companies to submit their manufacturing data and receive recommendations in return, helping to improve their products and processes. A dedicated £5 million fund will then provide companies with grants to make further improvements in areas of critical importance to their business.
Virtual manufacturing testbeds will allow companies to create a “digital twin” to simulate the implementation of digital technology on their own processes, harnessing data from other manufacturers that have already adopted the technologies to encourage investment.
The SMDH will also provide manufacturers with expert analysis of their emissions and energy data from support staff specialising in data analytics and engineering, which will help them target reductions in waste, energy use and ultimately improve sustainability.
The SMDH will first be accessible by small and medium size manufacturers in Northern Ireland in the coming months, before going live for companies across the rest of the UK. The programme will be supported across the rest of the UK by 12 delivery partners, including the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
The funding comes as part of the £300 million Made Smarter Innovation Challenge, a collaboration between UK Government and industry designed to support the development and increased use of new and existing industrial digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
The challenge aims to deliver a resilient, flexible, more productive and environmentally sustainable UK manufacturing sector. It will also develop new technologies that can be exploited commercially across the manufacturing industry, worldwide.
Law firm, Howes Percival has announced five senior promotions in the East Midlands, including a trio of new partners, Katherine Cereghino, Hannah Pryce, and Alexandra Kirkwood.
Neena Jakhu and Owen Franks have been made senior associates.
Geraint Davies, Howes Percival’s chairman, said: “I’d like to congratulate everyone on their promotions which acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and invaluable contribution these individuals have made to Howes Percival.
Hannah Pryce
“As a firm we have a reputation for promoting from within and it is great to be able to reward people for their exceptional efforts in supporting our clients during this challenging period.
“The whole team have been fantastic over the past 12 months. As a firm, we adapted well to the pandemic and that gave us a very strong base to move forward as things eased and the economy opened up.
“Our people have been at the heart of that and consistently provided excellent service to our clients, which has enabled us to capitalise on the opportunities that have arisen. Investment in people, through both external appointments and nurturing our existing talent, is key to our strategy, our continued success and growth.”
Katherine Cereghino
Katherine Cereghino, in the Leicester office, advises on company disposals, acquisitions, share arrangements, company restructuring, reorganisations, and company finance documentation, as well as commercial arrangements and documentation. Katherine has considerable experience advising companies on compliance with consumer protection legislation.
Hannah Pryce, in the Northampton and Milton Keynes offices, has considerable experience of providing contentious and non-contentious employment law advice to a broad range of clients. She has particular expertise in tribunal litigation, including complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Hannah is experienced in contentious senior exits and also delivers in-house training for clients.
Alexandra Kirkwood, in the Northampton office, joined Howes Percival as a trainee in 2010 and her practice encompasses commercial property sales and acquisitions, residential & commercial development, landlord & tenant matters and property finance. She also regularly assists the firm’s corporate and banking teams with property support work.
The East Midlands’ unemployment rate remains the second-lowest in the country after falling for the fifth consecutive month.
It was 2.7% for the period between January and March 2022 – a full percentage point below the national average, which was the lowest since 1974, and only higher than Northern Ireland (2.3%), according to the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) regional labour market figures.
However, the region’s economic inactivity rate – which measures the proportion of 16 to 64-year-olds who have exited the labour market for reasons such as retirement, caring duties, long-term ill health or studying – continues to climb to 21.9%, up by 0.8 percentage points from a year earlier and above the 21.4% national average.
Despite the low unemployment rate, the ONS said the number of people in jobs was still below pre-COVID levels, while regular pay fell by 1.2% when adjusted for the impact of inflation, which hit a 30-year high at 7% in March.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “At first glance, the unemployment rate falling for the fifth month in succession to hit yet another record low is hugely positive for the region’s labour force. It is largely testament to the success of our businesses in steering a strong rebound for our local economy as they got back to what they do best once COVID-19 restrictions were repealed.
“However, these figures disguise a historic hiring crunch facing many of our companies. The Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey showed that while 63% of East Midlands businesses attempted to recruit in the first quarter of 2022, four in five (80%) of this cohort encountered problems with filling vacancies.
“In an increasingly tight labour market, competition for skills is ramping up wage costs, leaving many firms unable to recruit the people they need given the other increasing overheads they face, such as energy and raw materials.
“Recent increases in economic inactivity have been driven by those aged 50 to 64 leaving the workforce, according to the ONS, so it’s clear we need to find pathways to get younger people into industries including manufacturing, construction and engineering, which are among those struggling the most in recruitment.
“With the economic recovery now on a knife-edge – as illustrated by national GDP shrinking by 0.1% in March – it’s imperative the Government does more to help people access retraining opportunities for in-demand jobs. Introducing a new skills tax credit would also incentivise employers to invest in training so we can grow our next generation of skilled workers.”
Recruitment specialists, Ambitions Personnel, is celebrating its 30th year of business with 30 acts of kindness.
Initially planned for 2020, Coronavirus restrictions put a stop to planned festivities. Now, two year’s later, Ambitions Personnel is ready to kick off the celebrations with the launch of #30forThirty.
#30forThirty is a varied calendar of 30 events scheduled throughout 2022, including fundraising for charity, staff volunteering their time, and making donations to various good causes, both locally and internationally.
Managing Director, Mandy Watson, said: “1990 feels like a lifetime ago, but it also feels like yesterday. It’s humbling to look back to those early years and see how far we’ve come as a business.
“For our 30th anniversary, we wanted to give back to some regional and national and international charitable organisations, such as Children with Cancer UK, the Royal British Legion, and more. #30forThirty is our way to celebrate a fantastic 30 (+2) years in Lincolnshire and the East, all while supporting the work of some wonderful charities.”
Director Claire Bishop said: “After matching thousands of candidates with fantastic opportunities, it’s hard to believe we’ve been here for 30 years! We were brainstorming how to celebrate our 30th anniversary all the way back in 2019, so #30forThirty has been a long time coming. We can’t wait to celebrate after two years of waiting!”
The first of the scheduled events is the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge to raise money for Children with Cancer UK. A number of staff from Ambitions Personnel will be taking part in the challenge on the 11th of June. You can support the team on their Just Giving page.
The final challenge will be the National Three Peaks, with the team aiming to scale Mount Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in England and Ben Nevis in Scotland, all within 24 hours.
With so many challenges to do throughout the year, Ambitions Personnel will be announcing more of their charitable initiatives in the coming months.
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“At Viridis, we understand how every single detail in the construction of a building can impact our environment. Working in partnership with architects, builders, project managers and their clients, we provide intelligent, innovative and, above all, sustainable building services to projects across a wide range of sectors.
“From designing in core sustainable principles at the earliest stages of projects, through to delivering low-carbon, low-cost lighting, water and energy systems, we are ensuring the East Midlands spearheads Sustainability and Environmental Design. We are excited to see this year’s entries to the East Midlands Bricks Awards and look forward to attending the ceremony to reveal the ultimate winner of Sustainable Development of the Year in September.”
The awards, which will take place on Thursday 15 September at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, celebrate the excellent work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools.
Nominations are now OPEN for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards.
To submit a business or development, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
